| If the Lake District in the northwest corner of | | | | of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, and many |
| England did not have quite a lot of rain it wouldn't | | | | more much-loved characters) lived more than half |
| have its lakes. If it didn't have its lakes it wouldn't | | | | her life between two of the major lakes, |
| attract millions of visitors each year to what is | | | | Windermere and Coniston. Her farmhouse home, |
| often called, "The Most Beautiful Corner of | | | | Hill Top, can be visited on six days of the week |
| England". | | | | (not Fridays), as can the legal office of her |
| So what do you do there when it rains? The | | | | husband in nearby Hawkshead which is now the |
| mountains may be covered in low clouds. Sitting in | | | | Beatrix Potter Gallery. Both of these are National |
| the open air enjoying the sun by the side of a | | | | Trust properties. |
| lake is clearly out of the question. What is there | | | | 3. Thirdly, in the late 19th century John Ruskin |
| to do? | | | | was highly influential in the world of the arts and |
| Fortunately there's plenty of choice, and one of | | | | also had an influence in the sphere of political |
| the secrets lies in the fascinating history of this | | | | ethics around the world. A professor at Oxford |
| region and the people it has attracted over past | | | | University, he moved up to the Lake District to |
| centuries. | | | | live at Brantwood - a house with an indescribably |
| 1. Let's start with William Wordsworth, probably | | | | beautiful view over Coniston Water. Together |
| the greatest of the 19th century romantic poets. | | | | with the Ruskin Museum in Coniston village |
| In Cockermouth you can explore his birthplace, | | | | Brantwood provides an not-to-be-missed |
| which is now turned into a very interesting | | | | opportunity to delve into the world of this |
| exhibition of late-18th century middle-class life in | | | | amazing multi-talented man. |
| the North of England. It is owned and operated by | | | | So there you are. Three suggestions for damp |
| the National Trust, a major British charitable body | | | | days in the Lake District .... and that's just the |
| which has as its remit the conservation of our | | | | start of what's available. Do you want to see |
| heritage. In Grasmere there is Dove Cottage, | | | | where and how the pencil was invented? It's here. |
| where Wordsworth lived when he was at the | | | | Do you want to visit a freshwater aquarium? |
| height of his creative talents; this is open to | | | | There's one here? Would you like to understand |
| visitors along with a neighbouring exhibition centre. | | | | the workings of nuclear power generation? That's |
| Finally there's Rydal Mount, just a few miles down | | | | also here. Ancient castles and mansions? Yes. Life |
| the road, where he lived for more than thirty | | | | in past centuries? It's here. Even if it rains you'll |
| years in later life - owned by a member of the | | | | have no problem occupying yourself in the English |
| Wordsworth family and also open to visitors. For | | | | Lake District, and between the showers you see |
| a stimulating literary day, Go Wordsworth. | | | | those glorious patterns of light and shade on the |
| 2. Coming forward into the 20th century the | | | | hillsides and the water unmatched anywhere in |
| famous children's writer, Beatrix Potter (originator | | | | the world. |